ESCONDIDO, Calif.—Kelsie Dewitt, a dancer for 10 years, watched the opening performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts at the California Center for the Arts on Friday night with her mother Carol Dewitt and father Brent Dewitt.

Miss Dewitt, who is a member of the Wake Forest Dance Company in North Carolina, said she was impressed by the classical Chinese dance presented by Shen Yun.

“They’re so expressive, how they perform, they really play toward the audience,” she said. The artists strengthened her own dedication to dance, she said.

“I just watch it, and it’s like it makes me want to keep dancing.”

According to the website of New York-based Shen Yun, classical Chinese dance is an art form thousands of years old, soaking up profound wisdom throughout history from every era and dynasty. “Classical Chinese dance is rich with expressive power.“

Watching this rich art form performed on stage so seamlessly by the talented Shen Yun dancers was a pleasure for Miss Dewitt.

“The men are fabulous, I like all the different jumps … the women too were so graceful, so I really enjoyed it,” she said.

“I love that how they walked across the stage, it’s like floating.”

Sharing his daughter’s enthusiasm, Mr. Dewitt used metaphors to describe how the dancers performed.

There’s the effortlessness about their moves, it’s like flowing water.

“There’s the effortlessness about their moves, it’s like flowing water, it’s just graceful, there’s no awkwardness,” said Mr. Dewitt. He is a CPA and a former futures trader.

“It’s just wonderful to watch them, just move and float across the stage in unison as well, well choreographed, and coordinated, it’s a nice collective movement,” he said.

A Christmas Treat

Coming to watch the performance was a Christmas present for the family, and a chance to spend more time with their daughter who had been away at Wake Forest for months.

“We wanted to do something special, and this was our Christmas treat,” said Mrs. Dewitt, a retired educator.

Having seats very close to the stage helped them appreciate the intricate and detailed work done on the costumes, and the different facial expressions of the dancers, Mrs. Dewitt said.

She said she saw a spiritual aspect to the show.

“We are rather spiritual so I really like the emphasis on the deity and peace and truth; that really resonated with me,” she said. “I appreciate art and beauty, and the grace, it’s just delightful to watch, the serenity.”

Mr. Dewitt added that the show helped him learn more about China.

“I have never seen a show quite like this … it’s wonderful, it’s expressive,” he said.